Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GG GOLDI 08’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by small anemone type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 51 days of short day length, bright yellow ray and disc florets, and a free branching habit.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘GG GOLDI 08’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ is a product of a cross between the male parent ‘Davis’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,325) and the female parent ‘TT1101’ (unpatented). The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Leo Van Zanten in August of 2003 in Oxnard, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ by terminal cuttings was performed in Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GG GOLDI 08.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘GG GOLDI 08’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, bright yellow anemone-type inflorescences;     -   2. Free branching habit; and     -   3. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming         consistently after 51 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ are similar to plants of the male parent variety, ‘Davis’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ are shorter. Also, the new cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ has a smaller inflorescence diameter and longer inflorescence longevity. Additionally, the ray florets of ‘GG GOLDI 08’ are yellow compared to the red-purple ray florets of the male parent. Finally, ‘GG GOLDI 08’ has a shorter response time.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ are similar to plants of the female parent variety, ‘TT1101’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ are shorter but have a wider plant spread. Also, the new cultivar ‘GG GOLDI 08’ has a smaller inflorescence diameter. Additionally, the ray florets of ‘GG GOLDI 08’ are a brighter yellow than the female parent. Finally, ‘GG GOLDI 08’ has a shorter response time.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘GG GOSUN 05’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,377), ‘GG GOLDI 08’ is shorter and wider. Additionally, the new variety ‘GG GOLDI 08’ has a smaller inflorescence diameter and brighter yellow ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘GG GOLDI 08’ grown in a 6 inch container. One cutting was used in the pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘GG GOLDI 08’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘GG GOLDI 08.’ -   Commercial classification: Pot-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 15 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 31 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 9 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 26. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 101 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 6 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Palmately lobed, sinuses between lateral lobes             parallel to divergent.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 138C. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 137B. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green             137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Green 138C. Venation color under side: Near Green 138C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 138B.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than             13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length             required to induce and develop blooms.         -   Inflorescence form.—Anemone.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             16.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 4 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 35 to 42             days.         -   Inflorescence disc diameter.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—21.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Yellow 7A. Upper             surface at maturity: Near Yellow 7A. Upper surface at             fading: Near Yellow 7B. Under surface at first opening: Near             Yellow 7C. Under surface at maturity: Near Yellow 7C. Under             surface at fading: Near Yellow 7D. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 183.         -   Shape.—Cylindric.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow 5A. At maturity: Near             Yellow 5A. At fading: Near Yellow 5C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.2 cm. At             lateral end (longest): Approximately 4.1 cm.         -   Angle to stem.—Acute.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Green 138B.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Form.—Globular.         -   Color.—Near Green-Yellow 1D. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 22.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             137B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 7A.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154D.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Stamens.—Absent. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 5A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154D.         -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.         -   Anther shape.—Tubular.         -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 5A.         -   Pollen color.—No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low     temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the     approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of     cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants     are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GG GOLDI 08’ as herein illustrated and described. 